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I like to try a bit of foresight, doesn’t work more times than it does but have got 33’s for Clemmie in the Guineas before having much evidence of how good she is. Yorkhill has run enough to see he has an engine of Thomas Tank proportions, it’s a guessing game to know which race Willie will run him in but he was 14’s for this race at one point. 5’s any race doesn’t appeal because he’d still be about that for all of those races on the day anyway or maybe slightly shorter if running in the Ryanair.
I always like to look for an upcoming horse in the Gold Cup rather than a battle hardened one. Might Bite is on my side but am happy to take on Bristol De Mai with Cheltenham usually having good in the going description in March.Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
I pretty much agree with you there Nathan. It doesn’t take much imagination at all to envisage Yorkhill running away with a Gold Cup whereas you’d have to have a pretty ‘wet dream’ to think of Bristol coming out on top.
I too am keen to have Might Bite on side and have him for the King George-Gold Cup double as I’m pretty sure he’s going to win at Kempton and surge to 5/2 favourite for Cheltenham.
On the subject of Kempton though, with Fox Norton looking a very likely runner now; if he goes close surely connections would have to think about the Gold Cup no matter what happens with Sizing John. And if that’s the case then surely 50/1 about Gold currently with Paddy Power would have disappeared into the Boxing Day sunset?
Anyone assuming Bristol De Mai will need bottomless ground to win this is making a big mistake imo. He acts fine on good ground. He’s better on soft because it blunts the kick of the pace horses and tests their stamina. He has only one pace, albeit a powerful one, and bottomless stamina.
He’s only run three times on good over fences. One was when runner up to Black Hercules in last year’s JLT where he ran a fine race given he tried to make all and blundered badly twice.
Come Gold Cup day he’ll be the youngest of the key challengers at 7 with a high possibility of still being improving. His jumping looks to have come on a fair bit this season.
He’s the top rated chaser in training pending Sizing John’s reassessment. 12/1 is a crazy price for the Gold Cup.
I’d say the KG is closer to the test of the Ryanair than it is the GC.
Ryanair is a test but it’s usually run on much better ground than the King George, which, imo, can be a brutal test of stamina. Much depends on the pace; last year it was pretty steady but there have been a few this century which were pillar to post hot, and these are the ones where you want a Gold Cup horse rather than a Ryanair horse.
Although the track is flat, that has its drawbacks in that there is no hiding place, no natural ‘rest’ points and horses find it tough to get a breather. With Might Bite and Bristol De Mai perhaps competing for the lead this year, you’ll want a serious stayer.
Disagree with quote regarding BDM, he definitely is a by far superior horse on soft/heavy than he is on good, could he win this? Of course he could, hes the highest rated as of now is he not?, but youd imagine once he gets buried at kempton the winner is going to be put upto something silly
He is exceptional in his conditions, but like last year, he will wither away come march (likely by boxing day unless its soft)
Ill be happy to congratulate any BDM backers should he prove me wrong, but ill be surprised if he ever runs anywhere near his rating again except in his optimum conditions (heavy haydock)
To judge Yorkhill chances on beating Top Notch is just plain lazy and a little naive.
Top Notch is a very nice animal in his own right, and how many ‘Gold Cup Horses’ are there in the strictest sense, and exactly what standard of horse would you expect Yorkhill to come up against in The JLT?
I would agree that he is not a beast, but the horse has done plenty right in his career from what I have seen. For the record, he is not my idea of the winner, but a silly comment is a silly comment.
Even if the pace is quick, this doesn’t mean you need to ‘stay further’ as your suggesting. I’m sure Kevin Blake did an article on this a while back, explaining how going slower can waste energy just as much as going quick.
Of course you need to stay 3m to win the KG but it’s more a test of speed than the GC is, hence Ryanair comparison.
I don’t agree that the King George is closer to the test of the Ryanair than Gold Cup, it’s just not true.
And for those gagging to plough into Bristol De Mai, could they please enlighten me as to the excuse given by Nigel Twiston-Davies for why he got outpaced in this year’s Gold Cup and finished lackadaisically.
I think of all the Championship races this one is sewn up already by Mite Bite. I don’t think it matters who turns up to be honest whether that be: Yorkhill, Thistlecrack or Bristol De Mai. Mite Bite is a monster and assuming he turns up fit and well I just can’t see anyone beating him. Mite Bite was, other than a disastrous fall at the last – which has to go down as jockey error, awesome at Kempton last year, comprehensive at Sandown and other than his bizarre attempt to have a quick pint before finishing off the RSA pretty damn good at Cheltenham.
I think the main difference between Kempton and Cheltenham is that Cheltenham is a gallopers’ track whereas Kempton requires a bit more pace because of the tight turns which stops the gallopers building up momentum. The extra 2f up the hill at Cheltenham in the Gold Cup makes a big difference and shifts the balance towards a stayer.
Back to the horses…..Of the other horses likely to run I think Native River seems to be the forgotten horse. He finished 3rd last year only 3 lengths off the winner and Tizzard’s yard was in poor form at the time. He apparently jarred himself up last year too. He’s only aged 7 going on 8 and I can see him running well. I can’t see him beating Mite Bite but he has to be a solid each way bet.
One step at a time with him Ham i reckon, was all but retired last spring…Must be revived alright, but won’t know what ability he retains till hes shows up on course. Suppose the 120s is worth it tho
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!I taken it when patrick announced that the plan had changed after they got him back, they said he would be going to the foxhunters route but then quickly said he would be going on to better things, enough of a sign for me, pitching him in at the deepend is also sign enough for me he retains enough abillity, its definitely worth taking 120s, its highly doubtful he will win this, but like ive said many a time, he dosent need to when your taking prices like 120s, just needs to run a good race.
More than happy with that performance from Coney Island. A lot of good judges thought it would be a big ask to see him win on his reappearance giving weight all around, but he dismissed any doubts with ease.
Harty confirms the Gold Cup is the plan, so full steam ahead with a real live chance.
Great to see Coney Island back. I’ve been following him for some time now.
Back to square one with him again, as last year had him down for the JLT not the RSA. Now have him mainly for the Ryanair not the Gold Cup. That run against Our Duke last year over 3 miles, it looked as if he was really tiring coming to the last fence and never stayed. Another year older, who knows.
Still 50/50 i reckon, next run will decide it.
That clears the waters completely for me!!
MIGHT BITE at 7/2 is huge and having already backed him seriously at 8/1 7/1 and 6/1 have just had more on at 7/2 and 4/1 !!
I cannot for the life of me see a danger apart from the quirks and the fences. No horse has come forward as a serious challenger this season.
As far as the trip is concerned which seems to be an issue with some folk he won at Aintree easy enough and that was 3 miles one furlong. I can’t see him not lasting the extra furlong and a half of the Gold Cup.I can see him being clear over the last and nothing getting near him up the hill.
7/2 and 4/1 is HUGE and he should be 7/4 by now!! Get On!!
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